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How to deal with "no set size" arrays in pinvoke structs?

How would you write this type of struct in c#?
struct _JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST {
DWORD NumberOfAssignedProcesses;
DWORD NumberOfProcessIdsInList;
ULONG_PTR ProcessIdList[1];
}
sins there is no set size for the ProcessIdList array, what do you do? Do you just write it like this:
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST
{
int NumberOfAssignedProcesses;
int NumberOfProcessIdsInList;
IntPtr ProcessIdList; //Must point to a allocated array, thanks jdweng for letting me know.
}
or do you just assign a size which is big enough, e.g.:
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST
{
int NumberOfAssignedProcesses;
int NumberOfProcessIdsInList;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst = MAX_PATH)]
UIntPtr[] ProcessIdList; //Works just fine, but is limited to the SizeConst.
}

This sort of structure is usually declared (there are others like this one in WLan APIs for example) :
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
public struct JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST
{
public int NumberOfAssignedProcesses;
public int NumberOfProcessIdsInList;
public IntPtr[] ProcessIdList;
public JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST(IntPtr pList)
{
int nIntSize = Marshal.SizeOf<int>(); // 4
NumberOfAssignedProcesses = Marshal.ReadInt32(pList, 0);
NumberOfProcessIdsInList = Marshal.ReadInt32(pList, nIntSize);
ProcessIdList = new IntPtr[NumberOfProcessIdsInList];
for (int i = 0; i < NumberOfProcessIdsInList; i++)
{
IntPtr pItemList = IntPtr.Zero;
if (Marshal.SizeOf<IntPtr>() == 4)
pItemList = new IntPtr(pList.ToInt32() + (i * Marshal.SizeOf<IntPtr>()) + (nIntSize * 2));
else
pItemList = new IntPtr(pList.ToInt64() + (i * Marshal.SizeOf<IntPtr>()) + (nIntSize * 2));
IntPtr nPID = new IntPtr();
nPID = Marshal.ReadIntPtr(pItemList, 0);
ProcessIdList[i] = nPID;
}
}
}
A test with 5 Notepad launched and assigned to a job with JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE,
then QueryInformationJobObject to enumerate the PIDs by using this structure =>
private IntPtr hJob = IntPtr.Zero;
bool bRet = false;
hJob = CreateJobObject(IntPtr.Zero, "Test Job Object");
JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION jbeli = new JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION();
jbeli.BasicLimitInformation.LimitFlags |= (JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE | JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_SILENT_BREAKAWAY_OK | JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_BREAKAWAY_OK);
int nLength = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION));
IntPtr pJobInfo = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(nLength);
Marshal.StructureToPtr(jbeli, pJobInfo, false);
SetInformationJobObject(hJob, JOBOBJECTINFOCLASS.JobObjectExtendedLimitInformation, pJobInfo, (uint)nLength);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(pJobInfo);
int nNbProcesses = 5;
for (int i = 0; i < nNbProcesses; i++)
{
using (Process exeProcess = new Process())
{
exeProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "notepad";
exeProcess.Start();
exeProcess.WaitForInputIdle();
IntPtr hProcess = exeProcess.Handle;
bRet = AssignProcessToJobObject(hJob, hProcess);
}
}
JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST jobpil = new JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST();
jobpil.NumberOfAssignedProcesses = nNbProcesses;
int nSize = Marshal.SizeOf<JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST>() + (nNbProcesses - 1) * Marshal.SizeOf<IntPtr>();
IntPtr pJobpil = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(nSize);
Marshal.StructureToPtr(jobpil, pJobpil, false);
int nReturnLength = 0;
bRet = QueryInformationJobObject(hJob, JOBOBJECTINFOCLASS.JobObjectBasicProcessIdList, pJobpil, nSize, out nReturnLength);
if (bRet)
{
var processidlist = new JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST(pJobpil);
foreach (var pid in processidlist.ProcessIdList)
{
Console.WriteLine("PID: {0}", pid.ToString());
}
}
else
{
int nErr = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
Win32Exception win32Exception = new Win32Exception(nErr);
this.Activate();
MessageBox.Show("Error: " + win32Exception.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
}
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(pJobpil);
// CloseHandle can be added in Form1_FormClosed :
private void Form1_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
{
CloseHandle(hJob);
}
Declarations =>
[DllImport("Kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public static extern IntPtr CreateJobObject(IntPtr lpJobAttributes, string lpName);
[DllImport("Kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public static extern bool SetInformationJobObject(IntPtr hJob, JOBOBJECTINFOCLASS JobObjectInfoClass, IntPtr lpJobObjectInfo, uint cbJobObjectInfoLength);
[DllImport("Kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public static extern bool AssignProcessToJobObject(IntPtr hJob, IntPtr hProcess);
[DllImport("Kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public static extern bool CloseHandle(IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("Kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public static extern bool QueryInformationJobObject(IntPtr hJob, JOBOBJECTINFOCLASS JobObjectInformationClass, [Out, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.SysUInt)] IntPtr lpJobObjectInformation, int cbJobObjectInformationLength, out int lpReturnLength);
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct JOBOBJECT_BASIC_LIMIT_INFORMATION
{
public ulong PerProcessUserTimeLimit;
public ulong PerJobUserTimeLimit;
public int LimitFlags;
public IntPtr MinimumWorkingSetSize;
public IntPtr MaximumWorkingSetSize;
public int ActiveProcessLimit;
public IntPtr Affinity;
public int PriorityClass;
public int SchedulingClass;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct IO_COUNTERS
{
public ulong ReadOperationCount;
public ulong WriteOperationCount;
public ulong OtherOperationCount;
public ulong ReadTransferCount;
public ulong WriteTransferCount;
public ulong OtherTransferCount;
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct JOBOBJECT_EXTENDED_LIMIT_INFORMATION
{
public JOBOBJECT_BASIC_LIMIT_INFORMATION BasicLimitInformation;
public IO_COUNTERS IoInfo;
public IntPtr ProcessMemoryLimit;
public IntPtr JobMemoryLimit;
public IntPtr PeakProcessMemoryUsed;
public IntPtr PeakJobMemoryUsed;
}
//
// Basic Limits
//
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_WORKINGSET = 0x00000001;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_PROCESS_TIME = 0x00000002;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_JOB_TIME = 0x00000004;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_ACTIVE_PROCESS = 0x00000008;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_AFFINITY = 0x00000010;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_PRIORITY_CLASS = 0x00000020;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_PRESERVE_JOB_TIME = 0x00000040;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_SCHEDULING_CLASS = 0x00000080;
//
// Extended Limits
//
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_PROCESS_MEMORY = 0x00000100;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_JOB_MEMORY = 0x00000200;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_JOB_MEMORY_HIGH = JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_JOB_MEMORY;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_DIE_ON_UNHANDLED_EXCEPTION = 0x00000400;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_BREAKAWAY_OK = 0x00000800;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_SILENT_BREAKAWAY_OK = 0x00001000;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_KILL_ON_JOB_CLOSE = 0x00002000;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_SUBSET_AFFINITY = 0x00004000;
public const int JOB_OBJECT_LIMIT_JOB_MEMORY_LOW = 0x00008000;
public enum JOBOBJECTINFOCLASS
{
JobObjectBasicAccountingInformation = 1,
JobObjectBasicLimitInformation,
JobObjectBasicProcessIdList,
JobObjectBasicUIRestrictions,
JobObjectSecurityLimitInformation, // deprecated
JobObjectEndOfJobTimeInformation,
JobObjectAssociateCompletionPortInformation,
JobObjectBasicAndIoAccountingInformation,
JobObjectExtendedLimitInformation,
JobObjectJobSetInformation,
JobObjectGroupInformation,
JobObjectNotificationLimitInformation,
JobObjectLimitViolationInformation,
JobObjectGroupInformationEx,
JobObjectCpuRateControlInformation,
JobObjectCompletionFilter,
JobObjectCompletionCounter,
JobObjectReserved1Information = 18,
JobObjectReserved2Information,
JobObjectReserved3Information,
JobObjectReserved4Information,
JobObjectReserved5Information,
JobObjectReserved6Information,
JobObjectReserved7Information,
JobObjectReserved8Information,
JobObjectReserved9Information,
JobObjectReserved10Information,
JobObjectReserved11Information,
JobObjectReserved12Information,
JobObjectReserved13Information,
JobObjectReserved14Information = 31,
JobObjectNetRateControlInformation,
JobObjectNotificationLimitInformation2,
JobObjectLimitViolationInformation2,
JobObjectCreateSilo,
JobObjectSiloBasicInformation,
JobObjectReserved15Information = 37,
JobObjectReserved16Information,
JobObjectReserved17Information,
JobObjectReserved18Information,
JobObjectReserved19Information = 41,
JobObjectReserved20Information,
MaxJobObjectInfoClass
}

I think any of the ways you mentioned should work.
In addition, there is a matching feature in c#: Define an array with the fixed keyword:
struct JOBOBJECT_BASIC_PROCESS_ID_LIST
{
int NumberOfAssignedProcesses;
int NumberOfProcessIdsInList;
fixed IntPtr ProcessIdList[1];
}
See documentation:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/unsafe-code-pointers/fixed-size-buffers
Also no bounds check, so you should be able to read behind the end of the struckt easily:
Note
Except for memory created by using stackalloc, the C# compiler and the common language runtime (CLR) do not perform any security buffer overrun checks. As with all unsafe code, use caution.

Get application that is using a given file [duplicate]

I've seen several of answers about using Handle or Process Monitor, but I would like to be able to find out in my own code (C#)
which process is locking a file.
I have a nasty feeling that I'm going to have to spelunk around in the win32 API, but if anyone has already done this and can put me on the right track, I'd really appreciate the help.
Update
Links to similar questions
How does one figure out what process locked a file using c#?
Command line tool
Across a Network
Locking a USB device
Unit test fails with locked file
deleting locked file

Long ago it was impossible to reliably get the list of processes locking a file because Windows simply did not track that information. To support the Restart Manager API, that information is now tracked.
I put together code that takes the path of a file and returns a List<Process> of all processes that are locking that file.
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
static public class FileUtil
{
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)]
public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)]
public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle,
UInt32 nFiles,
string[] rgsFilenames,
UInt32 nApplications,
[In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications,
UInt32 nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle,
out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo,
[In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
///
/// </remarks>
static public List<Process> WhoIsLocking(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
List<Process> processes = new List<Process>();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int ERROR_MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded = 0,
pnProcInfo = 0,
lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = new string[] { path }; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint)resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == ERROR_MORE_DATA)
{
// Create an array to store the process results
RM_PROCESS_INFO[] processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == 0)
{
processes = new List<Process>((int)pnProcInfo);
// Enumerate all of the results and add them to the
// list to be returned
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
// catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
catch (ArgumentException) { }
}
}
else throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return processes;
}
}
Using from Limited Permission (e.g. IIS)
This call accesses the registry. If the process does not have permission to do so, you will get ERROR_WRITE_FAULT, meaning An operation was unable to read or write to the registry. You could selectively grant permission to your restricted account to the necessary part of the registry. It is more secure though to have your limited access process set a flag (e.g. in the database or the file system, or by using an interprocess communication mechanism such as queue or named pipe) and have a second process call the Restart Manager API.
Granting other-than-minimal permissions to the IIS user is a security risk.

This question had an original answer that is now over 7 years old. That code is preserved at https://gist.github.com/i-e-b/2290426
This old version might work for you if you need to use Windows XP for some reason.
A much better answer is at How to check for file lock?
I've replicated Eric J's answer below (with using statements added, and class & method names to match the old code that was here) Please note that the comments to this answer may be out-of-date.
Research by user 'Walkman' is ongoing to improve the older code, as there are some conditions where the Restart Manager does not list all locks. See Github repo: https://github.com/Walkman100/FileLocks
Use like:
List<Process> locks = Win32Processes.GetProcessesLockingFile(#"C:\Hello.docx");
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace FileLockInfo
{
public static class Win32Processes
{
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
/// </remarks>
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded, pnProcInfo = 0, lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = {path}; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint) resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == MORE_DATA)
{
return EnumerateProcesses(pnProcInfoNeeded, handle, lpdwRebootReasons);
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return new List<Process>();
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
public enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)] public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)] public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle, uint nFiles, string[] rgsFilenames,
uint nApplications, [In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications, uint nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle, out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo, [In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
private static List<Process> EnumerateProcesses(uint pnProcInfoNeeded, uint handle, uint lpdwRebootReasons)
{
var processes = new List<Process>(10);
// Create an array to store the process results
var processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
var pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
var res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
catch (ArgumentException) { } // catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
}
return processes;
}
}
}

It is very complex to invoke Win32 from C#.
You should use the tool Handle.exe.
After that your C# code have to be the following:
string fileName = #"c:\aaa.doc";//Path to locked file
Process tool = new Process();
tool.StartInfo.FileName = "handle.exe";
tool.StartInfo.Arguments = fileName+" /accepteula";
tool.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
tool.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
tool.Start();
tool.WaitForExit();
string outputTool = tool.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
string matchPattern = #"(?<=\s+pid:\s+)\b(\d+)\b(?=\s+)";
foreach(Match match in Regex.Matches(outputTool, matchPattern))
{
Process.GetProcessById(int.Parse(match.Value)).Kill();
}

One of the good things about handle.exe is that you can run it as a subprocess and parse the output.
We do this in our deployment script - works like a charm.

The code I found here,
https://vmccontroller.svn.codeplex.com/svn/VmcController/VmcServices/DetectOpenFiles.cs
Works for me much better than the code provided by Iain. Iain's code seemed to be acquiring a lock of its own. Here is my slightly modified version of the code above modified to return the string path of the files locked instead of the FileSystemInfo object,
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
//using System.EnterpriseServices;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
namespace Crmc.Core.BuildTasks
{
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Linq;
#region ENUMs
internal enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int)0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int)0xC0000004L)
}
internal enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
internal enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
[Flags]
internal enum ProcessAccessRights
{
PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE = 0x00000040
}
[Flags]
internal enum DuplicateHandleOptions
{
DUPLICATE_CLOSE_SOURCE = 0x1,
DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS = 0x2
}
#endregion
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeObjectHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeObjectHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeObjectHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeProcessHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeProcessHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeProcessHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
#region Native Methods
internal static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern SafeProcessHandle OpenProcess(
[In] ProcessAccessRights dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out SafeObjectHandle lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] DuplicateHandleOptions dwOptions);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int GetProcessId(
[In] IntPtr Process);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int QueryDosDevice(
[In] string lpDeviceName,
[Out] StringBuilder lpTargetPath,
[In] int ucchMax);
}
#endregion
//[ComVisible(true), EventTrackingEnabled(true)]
public class DetectOpenFiles// : ServicedComponent
{
private static Dictionary<string, string> deviceMap;
private const string networkDevicePrefix = "\\Device\\LanmanRedirector\\";
private const int MAX_PATH = 260;
private enum SystemHandleType
{
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN = 0,
OB_TYPE_TYPE = 1,
OB_TYPE_DIRECTORY,
OB_TYPE_SYMBOLIC_LINK,
OB_TYPE_TOKEN,
OB_TYPE_PROCESS,
OB_TYPE_THREAD,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_7,
OB_TYPE_EVENT,
OB_TYPE_EVENT_PAIR,
OB_TYPE_MUTANT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_11,
OB_TYPE_SEMAPHORE,
OB_TYPE_TIMER,
OB_TYPE_PROFILE,
OB_TYPE_WINDOW_STATION,
OB_TYPE_DESKTOP,
OB_TYPE_SECTION,
OB_TYPE_KEY,
OB_TYPE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_WAITABLE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_21,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_22,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_23,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_24,
//OB_TYPE_CONTROLLER,
//OB_TYPE_DEVICE,
//OB_TYPE_DRIVER,
OB_TYPE_IO_COMPLETION,
OB_TYPE_FILE
};
private const int handleTypeTokenCount = 27;
private static readonly string[] handleTypeTokens = new string[] {
"", "", "Directory", "SymbolicLink", "Token",
"Process", "Thread", "Unknown7", "Event", "EventPair", "Mutant",
"Unknown11", "Semaphore", "Timer", "Profile", "WindowStation",
"Desktop", "Section", "Key", "Port", "WaitablePort",
"Unknown21", "Unknown22", "Unknown23", "Unknown24",
"IoCompletion", "File"
};
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY
{
public int OwnerPid;
public byte ObjectType;
public byte HandleFlags;
public short HandleValue;
public int ObjectPointer;
public int AccessMask;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the open files enumerator.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="processId">The process id.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static IEnumerable<String> GetOpenFilesEnumerator(int processId)
{
return new OpenFiles(processId);
}
public static List<Process> GetProcessesUsingFile(string fName)
{
List<Process> result = new List<Process>();
foreach (var p in Process.GetProcesses())
{
try
{
if (DetectOpenFiles.GetOpenFilesEnumerator(p.Id).Contains(fName))
{
result.Add(p);
}
}
catch { }//some processes will fail
}
return result;
}
private sealed class OpenFiles : IEnumerable<String>
{
private readonly int processId;
internal OpenFiles(int processId)
{
this.processId = processId;
}
#region IEnumerable<FileSystemInfo> Members
public IEnumerator<String> GetEnumerator()
{
NT_STATUS ret;
int length = 0x10000;
// Loop, probing for required memory.
do
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the address of the allocated
// memory is actually assigned to ptr if an
// asynchronous exception occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
int returnLength;
ret = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out returnLength);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
// Round required memory up to the nearest 64KB boundary.
length = ((returnLength + 0xffff) & ~0xffff);
}
else if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
int handleCount = Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr);
int offset = sizeof(int);
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY handleEntry = (SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)((int)ptr + offset), typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
if (handleEntry.OwnerPid == processId)
{
IntPtr handle = (IntPtr)handleEntry.HandleValue;
SystemHandleType handleType;
if (GetHandleType(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out handleType) && handleType == SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_FILE)
{
string devicePath;
if (GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out devicePath))
{
string dosPath;
if (ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(devicePath, out dosPath))
{
if (File.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // return new FileInfo(dosPath);
}
else if (Directory.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // new DirectoryInfo(dosPath);
}
}
}
}
}
offset += size;
}
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
//sw.Flush();
//sw.Close();
}
}
while (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH);
}
#endregion
#region IEnumerable Members
System.Collections.IEnumerator System.Collections.IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
{
return GetEnumerator();
}
#endregion
}
#region Private Members
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, int processId, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, out fileName, 200);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName, int wait)
{
using (FileNameFromHandleState f = new FileNameFromHandleState(handle))
{
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(GetFileNameFromHandle), f);
if (f.WaitOne(wait))
{
fileName = f.FileName;
return f.RetValue;
}
else
{
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
}
}
private class FileNameFromHandleState : IDisposable
{
private ManualResetEvent _mr;
private IntPtr _handle;
private string _fileName;
private bool _retValue;
public IntPtr Handle
{
get
{
return _handle;
}
}
public string FileName
{
get
{
return _fileName;
}
set
{
_fileName = value;
}
}
public bool RetValue
{
get
{
return _retValue;
}
set
{
_retValue = value;
}
}
public FileNameFromHandleState(IntPtr handle)
{
_mr = new ManualResetEvent(false);
this._handle = handle;
}
public bool WaitOne(int wait)
{
return _mr.WaitOne(wait, false);
}
public void Set()
{
try
{
_mr.Set();
}
catch{}
}
#region IDisposable Members
public void Dispose()
{
if (_mr != null)
_mr.Close();
}
#endregion
}
private static void GetFileNameFromHandle(object state)
{
FileNameFromHandleState s = (FileNameFromHandleState)state;
string fileName;
s.RetValue = GetFileNameFromHandle(s.Handle, out fileName);
s.FileName = fileName;
s.Set();
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
int length = 0x200; // 512 bytes
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees the assignment of the allocated
// memory address to ptr, if an ansynchronous exception
// occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
NT_STATUS ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW)
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the previous allocation is freed,
// and that the newly allocated memory address is
// assigned to ptr if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
}
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
fileName = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 8), (length - 9) / 2);
return fileName.Length != 0;
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, int processId, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle, processId);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleTypeFromToken(string token, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
for (int i = 1; i < handleTypeTokenCount; i++)
{
if (handleTypeTokens[i] == token)
{
handleType = (SystemHandleType)i;
return true;
}
}
handleType = SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN;
return false;
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle, int processId)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle)
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
return Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 0x60));
}
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
return string.Empty;
}
private static bool ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(string devicePath, out string dosPath)
{
EnsureDeviceMap();
int i = devicePath.Length;
while (i > 0 && (i = devicePath.LastIndexOf('\\', i - 1)) != -1)
{
string drive;
if (deviceMap.TryGetValue(devicePath.Substring(0, i), out drive))
{
dosPath = string.Concat(drive, devicePath.Substring(i));
return dosPath.Length != 0;
}
}
dosPath = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static void EnsureDeviceMap()
{
if (deviceMap == null)
{
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = BuildDeviceMap();
Interlocked.CompareExchange<Dictionary<string, string>>(ref deviceMap, localDeviceMap, null);
}
}
private static Dictionary<string, string> BuildDeviceMap()
{
string[] logicalDrives = Environment.GetLogicalDrives();
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = new Dictionary<string, string>(logicalDrives.Length);
StringBuilder lpTargetPath = new StringBuilder(MAX_PATH);
foreach (string drive in logicalDrives)
{
string lpDeviceName = drive.Substring(0, 2);
NativeMethods.QueryDosDevice(lpDeviceName, lpTargetPath, MAX_PATH);
localDeviceMap.Add(NormalizeDeviceName(lpTargetPath.ToString()), lpDeviceName);
}
localDeviceMap.Add(networkDevicePrefix.Substring(0, networkDevicePrefix.Length - 1), "\\");
return localDeviceMap;
}
private static string NormalizeDeviceName(string deviceName)
{
if (string.Compare(deviceName, 0, networkDevicePrefix, 0, networkDevicePrefix.Length, StringComparison.InvariantCulture) == 0)
{
string shareName = deviceName.Substring(deviceName.IndexOf('\\', networkDevicePrefix.Length) + 1);
return string.Concat(networkDevicePrefix, shareName);
}
return deviceName;
}
#endregion
}
}

Not very straightforward, but on Windows Vista and above you can use the Restart Manager APIs to see who is using a file. Internet Explorer caches settings includes details on using this to detect which process has iexplore.exe open.
Omitting a lot of detail:
// Start an RM session
RmStartSession(&sessionHandle, 0, sessionKey);
// Register the file you are checking
RmRegisterResources(sessionHandle, 1, filePathArray, 0, NULL, 0, NULL);
// Get all processes that have that file open.
RmGetList(sessionHAndle, &nProcInfoNeeded, &nProcInfo, processes, &rebootReason);
RmEndSession(sessionHandle);

Handle, from Windows Sysinternals. This is a free command-line utility provided by Microsoft.
You could run it, and parse the result.

I had issues with stefan's solution. Below is a modified version which seems to work well.
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a)
{
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses();
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++)
{
myProcess = processes[i];
//if (!myProcess.HasExited) //This will cause an "Access is denied" error
if (myProcess.Threads.Count > 0)
{
try
{
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++)
{
if ((modules[j].FileName.ToLower().CompareTo(strFile.ToLower()) == 0))
{
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break;
// TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception)
{
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
UPDATE
If you just want to know which process(es) are locking a particular DLL, you can execute and parse the output of tasklist /m YourDllName.dll. Works on Windows XP and later. See
What does this do? tasklist /m "mscor*"

This works for DLLs locked by other processes. This routine will not find out for example that a text file is locked by a word process.
C#:
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a) {
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses;
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++) {
myProcess = processes(i);
if (!myProcess.HasExited) {
try {
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++) {
if ((modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) == 0)) {
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break; // TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception) {
}
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
VB.Net:
Imports System.Management
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Friend myProcessArray As New ArrayList
Private myProcess As Process
Sub Main()
Dim strFile As String = "c:\windows\system32\msi.dll"
Dim a As ArrayList = getFileProcesses(strFile)
For Each p As Process In a
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName)
Next
End Sub
Private Function getFileProcesses(ByVal strFile As String) As ArrayList
myProcessArray.Clear()
Dim processes As Process() = Process.GetProcesses
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1
myProcess = processes(i)
If Not myProcess.HasExited Then
Try
Dim modules As ProcessModuleCollection = myProcess.Modules
Dim j As Integer
For j = 0 To modules.Count - 1
If (modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) = 0) Then
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess)
Exit For
End If
Next j
Catch exception As Exception
'MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
End Try
End If
Next i
Return myProcessArray
End Function
End Module

The following was produced based on Iain Ballard's code dump. It is broken: it will occasionally lock up when you retrieve the handle name. This code doesn't contain any work-arounds for that issue, and .NET leaves few options: Thread.Abort can no longer abort a thread that's currently in a native method.
So, with that disclaimer, here is the code to retrieve handles which has been adapted to work (apart from the occasional lock-up) both in 32 and 64 bit modes:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace BrokenHandleRetrieval
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Enumerates open handles.");
Console.WriteLine("This *will* lock up on calling HandleInfo.Name from time to time. Thread.Abort() won't help.");
foreach (var hi in HandleUtil.GetHandles().Where(hi => hi.Type == HandleType.File))
Console.WriteLine("pid: " + hi.ProcessId + ", name: " + hi.Name);
}
}
public enum HandleType
{
Unknown,
Other,
File, Directory, SymbolicLink, Key,
Process, Thread, Job, Session, WindowStation,
Timer, Desktop, Semaphore, Token,
Mutant, Section, Event, KeyedEvent, IoCompletion, IoCompletionReserve,
TpWorkerFactory, AlpcPort, WmiGuid, UserApcReserve,
}
public class HandleInfo
{
public int ProcessId { get; private set; }
public ushort Handle { get; private set; }
public int GrantedAccess { get; private set; }
public byte RawType { get; private set; }
public HandleInfo(int processId, ushort handle, int grantedAccess, byte rawType)
{
ProcessId = processId;
Handle = handle;
GrantedAccess = grantedAccess;
RawType = rawType;
}
private static Dictionary<byte, string> _rawTypeMap = new Dictionary<byte, string>();
private string _name, _typeStr;
private HandleType _type;
public string Name { get { if (_name == null) initTypeAndName(); return _name; } }
public string TypeString { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _typeStr; } }
public HandleType Type { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _type; } }
private void initType()
{
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
{
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
}
else
initTypeAndName();
}
bool _typeAndNameAttempted = false;
private void initTypeAndName()
{
if (_typeAndNameAttempted)
return;
_typeAndNameAttempted = true;
IntPtr sourceProcessHandle = IntPtr.Zero;
IntPtr handleDuplicate = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
sourceProcessHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(0x40 /* dup_handle */, true, ProcessId);
// To read info about a handle owned by another process we must duplicate it into ours
// For simplicity, current process handles will also get duplicated; remember that process handles cannot be compared for equality
if (!NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(sourceProcessHandle, (IntPtr) Handle, NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess(), out handleDuplicate, 0, false, 2 /* same_access */))
return;
// Query the object type
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
else
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_typeStr = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 0x58 + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
_rawTypeMap[RawType] = _typeStr;
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
// Query the object name
if (_typeStr != null && GrantedAccess != 0x0012019f && GrantedAccess != 0x00120189 && GrantedAccess != 0x120089) // don't query some objects that could get stuck
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_name = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
}
finally
{
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(sourceProcessHandle);
if (handleDuplicate != IntPtr.Zero)
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(handleDuplicate);
}
}
public static HandleType HandleTypeFromString(string typeStr)
{
switch (typeStr)
{
case null: return HandleType.Unknown;
case "File": return HandleType.File;
case "IoCompletion": return HandleType.IoCompletion;
case "TpWorkerFactory": return HandleType.TpWorkerFactory;
case "ALPC Port": return HandleType.AlpcPort;
case "Event": return HandleType.Event;
case "Section": return HandleType.Section;
case "Directory": return HandleType.Directory;
case "KeyedEvent": return HandleType.KeyedEvent;
case "Process": return HandleType.Process;
case "Key": return HandleType.Key;
case "SymbolicLink": return HandleType.SymbolicLink;
case "Thread": return HandleType.Thread;
case "Mutant": return HandleType.Mutant;
case "WindowStation": return HandleType.WindowStation;
case "Timer": return HandleType.Timer;
case "Semaphore": return HandleType.Semaphore;
case "Desktop": return HandleType.Desktop;
case "Token": return HandleType.Token;
case "Job": return HandleType.Job;
case "Session": return HandleType.Session;
case "IoCompletionReserve": return HandleType.IoCompletionReserve;
case "WmiGuid": return HandleType.WmiGuid;
case "UserApcReserve": return HandleType.UserApcReserve;
default: return HandleType.Other;
}
}
}
public static class HandleUtil
{
public static IEnumerable<HandleInfo> GetHandles()
{
// Attempt to retrieve the handle information
int length = 0x10000;
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
while (true)
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
int wantedLength;
var result = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out wantedLength);
if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
length = Math.Max(length, wantedLength);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
}
else if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
break;
else
throw new Exception("Failed to retrieve system handle information.");
}
int handleCount = IntPtr.Size == 4 ? Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr) : (int) Marshal.ReadInt64(ptr);
int offset = IntPtr.Size;
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
var struc = (SystemHandleEntry) Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + offset), typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
yield return new HandleInfo(struc.OwnerProcessId, struc.Handle, struc.GrantedAccess, struc.ObjectTypeNumber);
offset += size;
}
}
finally
{
if (ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SystemHandleEntry
{
public int OwnerProcessId;
public byte ObjectTypeNumber;
public byte Flags;
public ushort Handle;
public IntPtr Object;
public int GrantedAccess;
}
}
enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int) 0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int) 0xC0000004L)
}
enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
public static extern IntPtr OpenProcess(
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out IntPtr lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwOptions);
}
}

This is probably irrelevant and if it is please someone comment but there was a work-around I've used in explorer before to get around file locks.
If a file was locked by a process that had died Windows often wouldn't let you delete it but if you created a new file of the same name somewhere else, moved it to the folder it would succeed. You could then delete the new file and all was well.
To use this for your app you'd have to be able to read the file and hold it in memory before you did this then you write it back out after you'd got rid of the old one.
Maybe it will help, maybe not but it's worth trying.

Try Unlocker. If you try and delete the file that is locked by another process, it will list the process(es) that have the file locked. You can then unlock the file by shutting down those processes.

foreach (var process in Process.GetProcessesByName("excel")) //whatever you need to close
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.xlsx"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}
or
foreach (var process in Process.GetProcesses())
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.dat"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}

I believe that you need code running in kernel mode to completely answer the question (but I haven't looked at the restart manager API).
You can enumerate all processes and their modules - so if the file you're looking for is a module (DLL, EXE, OCX...), you're good to go. But if it's a text file for example, you have to look at the kernel handle table which you cannot see from user mode. Handle.exe has a kernel driver in order to do that.

I rewrote the GetProcessesLockingFile() method in the solution. The code was not working.
For example, you have a folder "C:\folder1\folder2" and a process in folder2 (process1). If the process was running, GetProcessesLockingFile() was returning "C:\folder1\folder2". So the condition if (files.Contains(filePath)) => if ("C:\folder1\folder2".contains("C:\folder1\folder2\process1")) was never true.
So this is my solution:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(FileInfo file)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (file.FullName.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}
Or with a string parameter:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (filePath.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}

You absolutely don't need to run in Kernel mode (!!!)
It's a Win32 FAQ since Windows 95 (!) (in C, Google groups, Win32) : read the handle table, from User mode of course, and get the PID from the File handle ...

Using dotnet core (net6) I solved this problem by using the win32 restart manager (as others have also mentioned). However some of the linked articles have elaborate code importing DLLs and calling those.
After finding an app to kill processes that lock a file written by meziantou. I found out that he publishes .Net wrappers for win32 dlls (including the restart manager).
Leveraging his work, I was able to fix this problem with the following code:
using Meziantou.Framework.Win32;
public static IEnumerable<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
using var session = RestartManager.CreateSession();
session.RegisterFile(filePath);
return session.GetProcessesLockingResources();
}

simpler with linq:
public void KillProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(file).ForEach(x =>
{
x.Kill();
x.WaitForExit(10000);
});
}
public List<Process> GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
return Process.GetProcesses()
.Where(x => !x.HasExited
&& x.Modules.Cast<ProcessModule>().ToList()
.Exists(y => y.FileName.ToLowerInvariant() == file.ToLowerInvariant())
).ToList();
}

Get process name which is using the same file [duplicate]

I've seen several of answers about using Handle or Process Monitor, but I would like to be able to find out in my own code (C#)
which process is locking a file.
I have a nasty feeling that I'm going to have to spelunk around in the win32 API, but if anyone has already done this and can put me on the right track, I'd really appreciate the help.
Update
Links to similar questions
How does one figure out what process locked a file using c#?
Command line tool
Across a Network
Locking a USB device
Unit test fails with locked file
deleting locked file

Long ago it was impossible to reliably get the list of processes locking a file because Windows simply did not track that information. To support the Restart Manager API, that information is now tracked.
I put together code that takes the path of a file and returns a List<Process> of all processes that are locking that file.
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
static public class FileUtil
{
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)]
public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)]
public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle,
UInt32 nFiles,
string[] rgsFilenames,
UInt32 nApplications,
[In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications,
UInt32 nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle,
out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo,
[In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
///
/// </remarks>
static public List<Process> WhoIsLocking(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
List<Process> processes = new List<Process>();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int ERROR_MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded = 0,
pnProcInfo = 0,
lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = new string[] { path }; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint)resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == ERROR_MORE_DATA)
{
// Create an array to store the process results
RM_PROCESS_INFO[] processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == 0)
{
processes = new List<Process>((int)pnProcInfo);
// Enumerate all of the results and add them to the
// list to be returned
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
// catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
catch (ArgumentException) { }
}
}
else throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return processes;
}
}
Using from Limited Permission (e.g. IIS)
This call accesses the registry. If the process does not have permission to do so, you will get ERROR_WRITE_FAULT, meaning An operation was unable to read or write to the registry. You could selectively grant permission to your restricted account to the necessary part of the registry. It is more secure though to have your limited access process set a flag (e.g. in the database or the file system, or by using an interprocess communication mechanism such as queue or named pipe) and have a second process call the Restart Manager API.
Granting other-than-minimal permissions to the IIS user is a security risk.

This question had an original answer that is now over 7 years old. That code is preserved at https://gist.github.com/i-e-b/2290426
This old version might work for you if you need to use Windows XP for some reason.
A much better answer is at How to check for file lock?
I've replicated Eric J's answer below (with using statements added, and class & method names to match the old code that was here) Please note that the comments to this answer may be out-of-date.
Research by user 'Walkman' is ongoing to improve the older code, as there are some conditions where the Restart Manager does not list all locks. See Github repo: https://github.com/Walkman100/FileLocks
Use like:
List<Process> locks = Win32Processes.GetProcessesLockingFile(#"C:\Hello.docx");
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace FileLockInfo
{
public static class Win32Processes
{
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
/// </remarks>
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded, pnProcInfo = 0, lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = {path}; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint) resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == MORE_DATA)
{
return EnumerateProcesses(pnProcInfoNeeded, handle, lpdwRebootReasons);
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return new List<Process>();
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
public enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)] public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)] public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle, uint nFiles, string[] rgsFilenames,
uint nApplications, [In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications, uint nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle, out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo, [In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
private static List<Process> EnumerateProcesses(uint pnProcInfoNeeded, uint handle, uint lpdwRebootReasons)
{
var processes = new List<Process>(10);
// Create an array to store the process results
var processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
var pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
var res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
catch (ArgumentException) { } // catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
}
return processes;
}
}
}

It is very complex to invoke Win32 from C#.
You should use the tool Handle.exe.
After that your C# code have to be the following:
string fileName = #"c:\aaa.doc";//Path to locked file
Process tool = new Process();
tool.StartInfo.FileName = "handle.exe";
tool.StartInfo.Arguments = fileName+" /accepteula";
tool.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
tool.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
tool.Start();
tool.WaitForExit();
string outputTool = tool.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
string matchPattern = #"(?<=\s+pid:\s+)\b(\d+)\b(?=\s+)";
foreach(Match match in Regex.Matches(outputTool, matchPattern))
{
Process.GetProcessById(int.Parse(match.Value)).Kill();
}

One of the good things about handle.exe is that you can run it as a subprocess and parse the output.
We do this in our deployment script - works like a charm.

The code I found here,
https://vmccontroller.svn.codeplex.com/svn/VmcController/VmcServices/DetectOpenFiles.cs
Works for me much better than the code provided by Iain. Iain's code seemed to be acquiring a lock of its own. Here is my slightly modified version of the code above modified to return the string path of the files locked instead of the FileSystemInfo object,
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
//using System.EnterpriseServices;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
namespace Crmc.Core.BuildTasks
{
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Linq;
#region ENUMs
internal enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int)0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int)0xC0000004L)
}
internal enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
internal enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
[Flags]
internal enum ProcessAccessRights
{
PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE = 0x00000040
}
[Flags]
internal enum DuplicateHandleOptions
{
DUPLICATE_CLOSE_SOURCE = 0x1,
DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS = 0x2
}
#endregion
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeObjectHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeObjectHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeObjectHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeProcessHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeProcessHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeProcessHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
#region Native Methods
internal static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern SafeProcessHandle OpenProcess(
[In] ProcessAccessRights dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out SafeObjectHandle lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] DuplicateHandleOptions dwOptions);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int GetProcessId(
[In] IntPtr Process);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int QueryDosDevice(
[In] string lpDeviceName,
[Out] StringBuilder lpTargetPath,
[In] int ucchMax);
}
#endregion
//[ComVisible(true), EventTrackingEnabled(true)]
public class DetectOpenFiles// : ServicedComponent
{
private static Dictionary<string, string> deviceMap;
private const string networkDevicePrefix = "\\Device\\LanmanRedirector\\";
private const int MAX_PATH = 260;
private enum SystemHandleType
{
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN = 0,
OB_TYPE_TYPE = 1,
OB_TYPE_DIRECTORY,
OB_TYPE_SYMBOLIC_LINK,
OB_TYPE_TOKEN,
OB_TYPE_PROCESS,
OB_TYPE_THREAD,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_7,
OB_TYPE_EVENT,
OB_TYPE_EVENT_PAIR,
OB_TYPE_MUTANT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_11,
OB_TYPE_SEMAPHORE,
OB_TYPE_TIMER,
OB_TYPE_PROFILE,
OB_TYPE_WINDOW_STATION,
OB_TYPE_DESKTOP,
OB_TYPE_SECTION,
OB_TYPE_KEY,
OB_TYPE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_WAITABLE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_21,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_22,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_23,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_24,
//OB_TYPE_CONTROLLER,
//OB_TYPE_DEVICE,
//OB_TYPE_DRIVER,
OB_TYPE_IO_COMPLETION,
OB_TYPE_FILE
};
private const int handleTypeTokenCount = 27;
private static readonly string[] handleTypeTokens = new string[] {
"", "", "Directory", "SymbolicLink", "Token",
"Process", "Thread", "Unknown7", "Event", "EventPair", "Mutant",
"Unknown11", "Semaphore", "Timer", "Profile", "WindowStation",
"Desktop", "Section", "Key", "Port", "WaitablePort",
"Unknown21", "Unknown22", "Unknown23", "Unknown24",
"IoCompletion", "File"
};
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY
{
public int OwnerPid;
public byte ObjectType;
public byte HandleFlags;
public short HandleValue;
public int ObjectPointer;
public int AccessMask;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the open files enumerator.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="processId">The process id.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static IEnumerable<String> GetOpenFilesEnumerator(int processId)
{
return new OpenFiles(processId);
}
public static List<Process> GetProcessesUsingFile(string fName)
{
List<Process> result = new List<Process>();
foreach (var p in Process.GetProcesses())
{
try
{
if (DetectOpenFiles.GetOpenFilesEnumerator(p.Id).Contains(fName))
{
result.Add(p);
}
}
catch { }//some processes will fail
}
return result;
}
private sealed class OpenFiles : IEnumerable<String>
{
private readonly int processId;
internal OpenFiles(int processId)
{
this.processId = processId;
}
#region IEnumerable<FileSystemInfo> Members
public IEnumerator<String> GetEnumerator()
{
NT_STATUS ret;
int length = 0x10000;
// Loop, probing for required memory.
do
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the address of the allocated
// memory is actually assigned to ptr if an
// asynchronous exception occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
int returnLength;
ret = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out returnLength);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
// Round required memory up to the nearest 64KB boundary.
length = ((returnLength + 0xffff) & ~0xffff);
}
else if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
int handleCount = Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr);
int offset = sizeof(int);
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY handleEntry = (SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)((int)ptr + offset), typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
if (handleEntry.OwnerPid == processId)
{
IntPtr handle = (IntPtr)handleEntry.HandleValue;
SystemHandleType handleType;
if (GetHandleType(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out handleType) && handleType == SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_FILE)
{
string devicePath;
if (GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out devicePath))
{
string dosPath;
if (ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(devicePath, out dosPath))
{
if (File.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // return new FileInfo(dosPath);
}
else if (Directory.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // new DirectoryInfo(dosPath);
}
}
}
}
}
offset += size;
}
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
//sw.Flush();
//sw.Close();
}
}
while (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH);
}
#endregion
#region IEnumerable Members
System.Collections.IEnumerator System.Collections.IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
{
return GetEnumerator();
}
#endregion
}
#region Private Members
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, int processId, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, out fileName, 200);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName, int wait)
{
using (FileNameFromHandleState f = new FileNameFromHandleState(handle))
{
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(GetFileNameFromHandle), f);
if (f.WaitOne(wait))
{
fileName = f.FileName;
return f.RetValue;
}
else
{
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
}
}
private class FileNameFromHandleState : IDisposable
{
private ManualResetEvent _mr;
private IntPtr _handle;
private string _fileName;
private bool _retValue;
public IntPtr Handle
{
get
{
return _handle;
}
}
public string FileName
{
get
{
return _fileName;
}
set
{
_fileName = value;
}
}
public bool RetValue
{
get
{
return _retValue;
}
set
{
_retValue = value;
}
}
public FileNameFromHandleState(IntPtr handle)
{
_mr = new ManualResetEvent(false);
this._handle = handle;
}
public bool WaitOne(int wait)
{
return _mr.WaitOne(wait, false);
}
public void Set()
{
try
{
_mr.Set();
}
catch{}
}
#region IDisposable Members
public void Dispose()
{
if (_mr != null)
_mr.Close();
}
#endregion
}
private static void GetFileNameFromHandle(object state)
{
FileNameFromHandleState s = (FileNameFromHandleState)state;
string fileName;
s.RetValue = GetFileNameFromHandle(s.Handle, out fileName);
s.FileName = fileName;
s.Set();
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
int length = 0x200; // 512 bytes
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees the assignment of the allocated
// memory address to ptr, if an ansynchronous exception
// occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
NT_STATUS ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW)
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the previous allocation is freed,
// and that the newly allocated memory address is
// assigned to ptr if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
}
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
fileName = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 8), (length - 9) / 2);
return fileName.Length != 0;
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, int processId, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle, processId);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleTypeFromToken(string token, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
for (int i = 1; i < handleTypeTokenCount; i++)
{
if (handleTypeTokens[i] == token)
{
handleType = (SystemHandleType)i;
return true;
}
}
handleType = SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN;
return false;
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle, int processId)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle)
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
return Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 0x60));
}
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
return string.Empty;
}
private static bool ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(string devicePath, out string dosPath)
{
EnsureDeviceMap();
int i = devicePath.Length;
while (i > 0 && (i = devicePath.LastIndexOf('\\', i - 1)) != -1)
{
string drive;
if (deviceMap.TryGetValue(devicePath.Substring(0, i), out drive))
{
dosPath = string.Concat(drive, devicePath.Substring(i));
return dosPath.Length != 0;
}
}
dosPath = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static void EnsureDeviceMap()
{
if (deviceMap == null)
{
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = BuildDeviceMap();
Interlocked.CompareExchange<Dictionary<string, string>>(ref deviceMap, localDeviceMap, null);
}
}
private static Dictionary<string, string> BuildDeviceMap()
{
string[] logicalDrives = Environment.GetLogicalDrives();
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = new Dictionary<string, string>(logicalDrives.Length);
StringBuilder lpTargetPath = new StringBuilder(MAX_PATH);
foreach (string drive in logicalDrives)
{
string lpDeviceName = drive.Substring(0, 2);
NativeMethods.QueryDosDevice(lpDeviceName, lpTargetPath, MAX_PATH);
localDeviceMap.Add(NormalizeDeviceName(lpTargetPath.ToString()), lpDeviceName);
}
localDeviceMap.Add(networkDevicePrefix.Substring(0, networkDevicePrefix.Length - 1), "\\");
return localDeviceMap;
}
private static string NormalizeDeviceName(string deviceName)
{
if (string.Compare(deviceName, 0, networkDevicePrefix, 0, networkDevicePrefix.Length, StringComparison.InvariantCulture) == 0)
{
string shareName = deviceName.Substring(deviceName.IndexOf('\\', networkDevicePrefix.Length) + 1);
return string.Concat(networkDevicePrefix, shareName);
}
return deviceName;
}
#endregion
}
}

Not very straightforward, but on Windows Vista and above you can use the Restart Manager APIs to see who is using a file. Internet Explorer caches settings includes details on using this to detect which process has iexplore.exe open.
Omitting a lot of detail:
// Start an RM session
RmStartSession(&sessionHandle, 0, sessionKey);
// Register the file you are checking
RmRegisterResources(sessionHandle, 1, filePathArray, 0, NULL, 0, NULL);
// Get all processes that have that file open.
RmGetList(sessionHAndle, &nProcInfoNeeded, &nProcInfo, processes, &rebootReason);
RmEndSession(sessionHandle);

Handle, from Windows Sysinternals. This is a free command-line utility provided by Microsoft.
You could run it, and parse the result.

I had issues with stefan's solution. Below is a modified version which seems to work well.
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a)
{
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses();
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++)
{
myProcess = processes[i];
//if (!myProcess.HasExited) //This will cause an "Access is denied" error
if (myProcess.Threads.Count > 0)
{
try
{
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++)
{
if ((modules[j].FileName.ToLower().CompareTo(strFile.ToLower()) == 0))
{
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break;
// TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception)
{
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
UPDATE
If you just want to know which process(es) are locking a particular DLL, you can execute and parse the output of tasklist /m YourDllName.dll. Works on Windows XP and later. See
What does this do? tasklist /m "mscor*"

This works for DLLs locked by other processes. This routine will not find out for example that a text file is locked by a word process.
C#:
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a) {
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses;
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++) {
myProcess = processes(i);
if (!myProcess.HasExited) {
try {
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++) {
if ((modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) == 0)) {
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break; // TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception) {
}
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
VB.Net:
Imports System.Management
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Friend myProcessArray As New ArrayList
Private myProcess As Process
Sub Main()
Dim strFile As String = "c:\windows\system32\msi.dll"
Dim a As ArrayList = getFileProcesses(strFile)
For Each p As Process In a
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName)
Next
End Sub
Private Function getFileProcesses(ByVal strFile As String) As ArrayList
myProcessArray.Clear()
Dim processes As Process() = Process.GetProcesses
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1
myProcess = processes(i)
If Not myProcess.HasExited Then
Try
Dim modules As ProcessModuleCollection = myProcess.Modules
Dim j As Integer
For j = 0 To modules.Count - 1
If (modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) = 0) Then
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess)
Exit For
End If
Next j
Catch exception As Exception
'MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
End Try
End If
Next i
Return myProcessArray
End Function
End Module

The following was produced based on Iain Ballard's code dump. It is broken: it will occasionally lock up when you retrieve the handle name. This code doesn't contain any work-arounds for that issue, and .NET leaves few options: Thread.Abort can no longer abort a thread that's currently in a native method.
So, with that disclaimer, here is the code to retrieve handles which has been adapted to work (apart from the occasional lock-up) both in 32 and 64 bit modes:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace BrokenHandleRetrieval
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Enumerates open handles.");
Console.WriteLine("This *will* lock up on calling HandleInfo.Name from time to time. Thread.Abort() won't help.");
foreach (var hi in HandleUtil.GetHandles().Where(hi => hi.Type == HandleType.File))
Console.WriteLine("pid: " + hi.ProcessId + ", name: " + hi.Name);
}
}
public enum HandleType
{
Unknown,
Other,
File, Directory, SymbolicLink, Key,
Process, Thread, Job, Session, WindowStation,
Timer, Desktop, Semaphore, Token,
Mutant, Section, Event, KeyedEvent, IoCompletion, IoCompletionReserve,
TpWorkerFactory, AlpcPort, WmiGuid, UserApcReserve,
}
public class HandleInfo
{
public int ProcessId { get; private set; }
public ushort Handle { get; private set; }
public int GrantedAccess { get; private set; }
public byte RawType { get; private set; }
public HandleInfo(int processId, ushort handle, int grantedAccess, byte rawType)
{
ProcessId = processId;
Handle = handle;
GrantedAccess = grantedAccess;
RawType = rawType;
}
private static Dictionary<byte, string> _rawTypeMap = new Dictionary<byte, string>();
private string _name, _typeStr;
private HandleType _type;
public string Name { get { if (_name == null) initTypeAndName(); return _name; } }
public string TypeString { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _typeStr; } }
public HandleType Type { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _type; } }
private void initType()
{
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
{
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
}
else
initTypeAndName();
}
bool _typeAndNameAttempted = false;
private void initTypeAndName()
{
if (_typeAndNameAttempted)
return;
_typeAndNameAttempted = true;
IntPtr sourceProcessHandle = IntPtr.Zero;
IntPtr handleDuplicate = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
sourceProcessHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(0x40 /* dup_handle */, true, ProcessId);
// To read info about a handle owned by another process we must duplicate it into ours
// For simplicity, current process handles will also get duplicated; remember that process handles cannot be compared for equality
if (!NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(sourceProcessHandle, (IntPtr) Handle, NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess(), out handleDuplicate, 0, false, 2 /* same_access */))
return;
// Query the object type
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
else
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_typeStr = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 0x58 + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
_rawTypeMap[RawType] = _typeStr;
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
// Query the object name
if (_typeStr != null && GrantedAccess != 0x0012019f && GrantedAccess != 0x00120189 && GrantedAccess != 0x120089) // don't query some objects that could get stuck
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_name = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
}
finally
{
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(sourceProcessHandle);
if (handleDuplicate != IntPtr.Zero)
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(handleDuplicate);
}
}
public static HandleType HandleTypeFromString(string typeStr)
{
switch (typeStr)
{
case null: return HandleType.Unknown;
case "File": return HandleType.File;
case "IoCompletion": return HandleType.IoCompletion;
case "TpWorkerFactory": return HandleType.TpWorkerFactory;
case "ALPC Port": return HandleType.AlpcPort;
case "Event": return HandleType.Event;
case "Section": return HandleType.Section;
case "Directory": return HandleType.Directory;
case "KeyedEvent": return HandleType.KeyedEvent;
case "Process": return HandleType.Process;
case "Key": return HandleType.Key;
case "SymbolicLink": return HandleType.SymbolicLink;
case "Thread": return HandleType.Thread;
case "Mutant": return HandleType.Mutant;
case "WindowStation": return HandleType.WindowStation;
case "Timer": return HandleType.Timer;
case "Semaphore": return HandleType.Semaphore;
case "Desktop": return HandleType.Desktop;
case "Token": return HandleType.Token;
case "Job": return HandleType.Job;
case "Session": return HandleType.Session;
case "IoCompletionReserve": return HandleType.IoCompletionReserve;
case "WmiGuid": return HandleType.WmiGuid;
case "UserApcReserve": return HandleType.UserApcReserve;
default: return HandleType.Other;
}
}
}
public static class HandleUtil
{
public static IEnumerable<HandleInfo> GetHandles()
{
// Attempt to retrieve the handle information
int length = 0x10000;
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
while (true)
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
int wantedLength;
var result = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out wantedLength);
if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
length = Math.Max(length, wantedLength);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
}
else if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
break;
else
throw new Exception("Failed to retrieve system handle information.");
}
int handleCount = IntPtr.Size == 4 ? Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr) : (int) Marshal.ReadInt64(ptr);
int offset = IntPtr.Size;
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
var struc = (SystemHandleEntry) Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + offset), typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
yield return new HandleInfo(struc.OwnerProcessId, struc.Handle, struc.GrantedAccess, struc.ObjectTypeNumber);
offset += size;
}
}
finally
{
if (ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SystemHandleEntry
{
public int OwnerProcessId;
public byte ObjectTypeNumber;
public byte Flags;
public ushort Handle;
public IntPtr Object;
public int GrantedAccess;
}
}
enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int) 0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int) 0xC0000004L)
}
enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
public static extern IntPtr OpenProcess(
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out IntPtr lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwOptions);
}
}

This is probably irrelevant and if it is please someone comment but there was a work-around I've used in explorer before to get around file locks.
If a file was locked by a process that had died Windows often wouldn't let you delete it but if you created a new file of the same name somewhere else, moved it to the folder it would succeed. You could then delete the new file and all was well.
To use this for your app you'd have to be able to read the file and hold it in memory before you did this then you write it back out after you'd got rid of the old one.
Maybe it will help, maybe not but it's worth trying.

Try Unlocker. If you try and delete the file that is locked by another process, it will list the process(es) that have the file locked. You can then unlock the file by shutting down those processes.

foreach (var process in Process.GetProcessesByName("excel")) //whatever you need to close
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.xlsx"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}
or
foreach (var process in Process.GetProcesses())
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.dat"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}

I believe that you need code running in kernel mode to completely answer the question (but I haven't looked at the restart manager API).
You can enumerate all processes and their modules - so if the file you're looking for is a module (DLL, EXE, OCX...), you're good to go. But if it's a text file for example, you have to look at the kernel handle table which you cannot see from user mode. Handle.exe has a kernel driver in order to do that.

I rewrote the GetProcessesLockingFile() method in the solution. The code was not working.
For example, you have a folder "C:\folder1\folder2" and a process in folder2 (process1). If the process was running, GetProcessesLockingFile() was returning "C:\folder1\folder2". So the condition if (files.Contains(filePath)) => if ("C:\folder1\folder2".contains("C:\folder1\folder2\process1")) was never true.
So this is my solution:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(FileInfo file)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (file.FullName.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}
Or with a string parameter:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (filePath.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}

You absolutely don't need to run in Kernel mode (!!!)
It's a Win32 FAQ since Windows 95 (!) (in C, Google groups, Win32) : read the handle table, from User mode of course, and get the PID from the File handle ...

Using dotnet core (net6) I solved this problem by using the win32 restart manager (as others have also mentioned). However some of the linked articles have elaborate code importing DLLs and calling those.
After finding an app to kill processes that lock a file written by meziantou. I found out that he publishes .Net wrappers for win32 dlls (including the restart manager).
Leveraging his work, I was able to fix this problem with the following code:
using Meziantou.Framework.Win32;
public static IEnumerable<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
using var session = RestartManager.CreateSession();
session.RegisterFile(filePath);
return session.GetProcessesLockingResources();
}

simpler with linq:
public void KillProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(file).ForEach(x =>
{
x.Kill();
x.WaitForExit(10000);
});
}
public List<Process> GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
return Process.GetProcesses()
.Where(x => !x.HasExited
&& x.Modules.Cast<ProcessModule>().ToList()
.Exists(y => y.FileName.ToLowerInvariant() == file.ToLowerInvariant())
).ToList();
}

Starting a new user session from a service

I have the following problem:
From a service I need to start an application in a user session. No human user log on that machine, since it is a server. Launched application must have a session != 0.
Current "solution"
I used a scheduled task at machine startup, that task launch ( in session 0, of course ) an application launching a Remote Desktop logon on the same machine: this creates a user session > 0 and in the user startup the is the final application to launch. It works, but too tricky.
Is there some smartest way? It is critical that I can reuse a user session already on since there is potentially no user logged on.
MAJOR UPDATE
Well after a lot of research and partial successes, and also thanks to some SysAdmin inflexibility about creating an user for a specific pourpose, I decided to use OpenGL instead of WPF for render the 3d portion broken in Session 0.
Surprisingly it took less than expected. I think having this question as a reference could be useful to other who want try to render a Viewport3D from a service.

I'm not sure if this will work, but maybe this answer helps in your case.
Use the class from the answer I link i provided and the following method (with the appropriate values):
public static void EnableVideoDrivers(bool enable)
{
// every type of device has a hard-coded GUID, put here the one for
// video drivers
Guid videoGuid = new Guid("{device GUID}");
// get this from the properties dialog box of this device in Device Manager
string instancePath = #"Device Instance Path";
DeviceHelper.SetDeviceEnabled(videoGuid, instancePath, enable);
}
Here's a list of Popular Device Class GUIDs.

I'm not sure I understand correctly your needs, but maybe just starting process with given credentials and redirect input and output is what you need. Starting process with given credentials:
Process p = new Process();
p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(fileName, args);
p.StartInfo.UserName = userName;
p.StartInfo.Password = pass;
p.Start();
You may also need to redirect input and output of the application. That problem is well described on CodeProjecgt in this artice.

This is how I start a process for a particular usersession from a Local windows service.
It uses C#, with some DLL imports from kernel32.dll, wtsaspi.dll, userev.dll, and advapi32.dll.
For context, my code will search all user sessions. In my scenario, my service is running on a Windows Terminal server and wants to keep a particular app "alive" in each user's session. Meaning, if we check and its not running anymore, we restart it.
Here is the program logic (abbreviated), this is how you call the method that starts the user process:
foreach(var sesh in ProcessExtensions.GetSessions().Where(r => r.State == "Active").ToList())
{
var running = procs.Any(r => r.ProcessName == filename && r.SessionId == sesh.SessionId);
if (!running)
{
try
{
ProcessExtensions.StartProcessForSession(sesh.SessionId, (string)item, "/restart", System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName((string)item), true);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Trace.TraceWarning("Error: {0}", ex);
}
}
}
Here is the implementation of ProcessExtensions where all of the good stuff is.
Disclaimer - I did not write this code, This is an example I found online and adjusted it to my needs. If you authored the original post. Apologies for the lack of footnote.
ProcessExtensions.cs
public static class ProcessExtensions
{
#region Win32 Constants
private const int CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT = 0x00000400;
private const int CREATE_NO_WINDOW = 0x08000000;
private const int CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE = 0x00000010;
private const uint INVALID_SESSION_ID = 0xFFFFFFFF;
private static readonly IntPtr WTS_CURRENT_SERVER_HANDLE = IntPtr.Zero;
#endregion
#region DllImports
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "CreateProcessAsUser", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
private static extern bool CreateProcessAsUser(
IntPtr hToken,
String lpApplicationName,
String lpCommandLine,
IntPtr lpProcessAttributes,
IntPtr lpThreadAttributes,
bool bInheritHandle,
uint dwCreationFlags,
IntPtr lpEnvironment,
String lpCurrentDirectory,
ref STARTUPINFO lpStartupInfo,
out PROCESS_INFORMATION lpProcessInformation);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "DuplicateTokenEx")]
private static extern bool DuplicateTokenEx(
IntPtr ExistingTokenHandle,
uint dwDesiredAccess,
IntPtr lpThreadAttributes,
int TokenType,
int ImpersonationLevel,
ref IntPtr DuplicateTokenHandle);
[DllImport("userenv.dll", SetLastError = true)]
private static extern bool CreateEnvironmentBlock(ref IntPtr lpEnvironment, IntPtr hToken, bool bInherit);
[DllImport("userenv.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
private static extern bool DestroyEnvironmentBlock(IntPtr lpEnvironment);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
private static extern bool CloseHandle(IntPtr hSnapshot);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
private static extern uint WTSGetActiveConsoleSessionId();
[DllImport("Wtsapi32.dll")]
private static extern uint WTSQueryUserToken(uint SessionId, ref IntPtr phToken);
[DllImport("wtsapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
private static extern int WTSEnumerateSessions(
IntPtr hServer,
int Reserved,
int Version,
ref IntPtr ppSessionInfo,
ref int pCount);
#endregion
#region Win32 Structs
private enum SW
{
SW_HIDE = 0,
SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1,
SW_NORMAL = 1,
SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2,
SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3,
SW_MAXIMIZE = 3,
SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4,
SW_SHOW = 5,
SW_MINIMIZE = 6,
SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7,
SW_SHOWNA = 8,
SW_RESTORE = 9,
SW_SHOWDEFAULT = 10,
SW_MAX = 10
}
private enum WTS_CONNECTSTATE_CLASS
{
WTSActive,
WTSConnected,
WTSConnectQuery,
WTSShadow,
WTSDisconnected,
WTSIdle,
WTSListen,
WTSReset,
WTSDown,
WTSInit
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct PROCESS_INFORMATION
{
public IntPtr hProcess;
public IntPtr hThread;
public uint dwProcessId;
public uint dwThreadId;
}
private enum SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL
{
SecurityAnonymous = 0,
SecurityIdentification = 1,
SecurityImpersonation = 2,
SecurityDelegation = 3,
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct STARTUPINFO
{
public int cb;
public String lpReserved;
public String lpDesktop;
public String lpTitle;
public uint dwX;
public uint dwY;
public uint dwXSize;
public uint dwYSize;
public uint dwXCountChars;
public uint dwYCountChars;
public uint dwFillAttribute;
public uint dwFlags;
public short wShowWindow;
public short cbReserved2;
public IntPtr lpReserved2;
public IntPtr hStdInput;
public IntPtr hStdOutput;
public IntPtr hStdError;
}
private enum TOKEN_TYPE
{
TokenPrimary = 1,
TokenImpersonation = 2
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct WTS_SESSION_INFO
{
public readonly UInt32 SessionID;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStr)]
public readonly String pWinStationName;
public readonly WTS_CONNECTSTATE_CLASS State;
}
#endregion
public static IEnumerable<UserSessionData> GetSessions()
{
//var bResult = false;
var hImpersonationToken = IntPtr.Zero;
//var activeSessionId = INVALID_SESSION_ID;
var pSessionInfo = IntPtr.Zero;
var sessionCount = 0;
if (WTSEnumerateSessions(WTS_CURRENT_SERVER_HANDLE, 0, 1, ref pSessionInfo, ref sessionCount) != 0)
{
var arrayElementSize = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(WTS_SESSION_INFO));
var current = pSessionInfo;
for (var i = 0; i < sessionCount; i++)
{
var si = (WTS_SESSION_INFO)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)current, typeof(WTS_SESSION_INFO));
current += arrayElementSize;
var data = new UserSessionData
{
SessionId = (int)si.SessionID,
State = si.State.ToString().Substring(3),
Name = si.pWinStationName
};
yield return data;
}
}
}
private static bool GetUserTokenForSession(int sessionId, ref IntPtr phUserToken)
{
var bResult = false;
var hImpersonationToken = IntPtr.Zero;
var pSessionInfo = IntPtr.Zero;
if (WTSQueryUserToken((uint)sessionId, ref hImpersonationToken) != 0)
{
// Convert the impersonation token to a primary token
bResult = DuplicateTokenEx(hImpersonationToken, 0, IntPtr.Zero,
(int)SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL.SecurityImpersonation, (int)TOKEN_TYPE.TokenPrimary,
ref phUserToken);
CloseHandle(hImpersonationToken);
}
return bResult;
}
private static bool GetCurrentUserSessionToken(ref IntPtr phUserToken)
{
var bResult = false;
var hImpersonationToken = IntPtr.Zero;
var activeSessionId = INVALID_SESSION_ID;
var pSessionInfo = IntPtr.Zero;
var sessionCount = 0;
// Get a handle to the user access token for the current active session.
if (WTSEnumerateSessions(WTS_CURRENT_SERVER_HANDLE, 0, 1, ref pSessionInfo, ref sessionCount) != 0)
{
var arrayElementSize = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(WTS_SESSION_INFO));
var current = pSessionInfo;
for (var i = 0; i < sessionCount; i++)
{
var si = (WTS_SESSION_INFO)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)current, typeof(WTS_SESSION_INFO));
current += arrayElementSize;
if (si.State == WTS_CONNECTSTATE_CLASS.WTSActive)
{
activeSessionId = si.SessionID;
}
}
}
// If enumerating did not work, fall back to the old method
if (activeSessionId == INVALID_SESSION_ID)
{
activeSessionId = WTSGetActiveConsoleSessionId();
}
if (WTSQueryUserToken(activeSessionId, ref hImpersonationToken) != 0)
{
// Convert the impersonation token to a primary token
bResult = DuplicateTokenEx(hImpersonationToken, 0, IntPtr.Zero,
(int)SECURITY_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL.SecurityImpersonation, (int)TOKEN_TYPE.TokenPrimary,
ref phUserToken);
CloseHandle(hImpersonationToken);
}
return bResult;
}
public static bool StartProcessForSession(int sessionId, string appPath, string cmdLine = null, string workDir = null, bool visible = true)
{
var hUserToken = IntPtr.Zero;
var startInfo = new STARTUPINFO();
var procInfo = new PROCESS_INFORMATION();
var pEnv = IntPtr.Zero;
int iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser;
startInfo.cb = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(STARTUPINFO));
try
{
if (!GetUserTokenForSession(sessionId, ref hUserToken))
{
throw new Exception("StartProcessAsCurrentUser: GetSessionUserToken failed.");
}
uint dwCreationFlags = CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT | (uint)(visible ? CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE : CREATE_NO_WINDOW);
startInfo.wShowWindow = (short)(visible ? SW.SW_SHOW : SW.SW_HIDE);
startInfo.lpDesktop = "winsta0\\default";
if (!CreateEnvironmentBlock(ref pEnv, hUserToken, false))
{
throw new Exception("StartProcessInSession: CreateEnvironmentBlock failed.");
}
if (!CreateProcessAsUser(hUserToken,
appPath, // Application Name
cmdLine, // Command Line
IntPtr.Zero,
IntPtr.Zero,
false,
dwCreationFlags,
pEnv,
workDir, // Working directory
ref startInfo,
out procInfo))
{
iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
throw new Exception("StartProcessAsCurrentUser: CreateProcessAsUser failed. Error Code -" + iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser);
}
iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
}
finally
{
CloseHandle(hUserToken);
if (pEnv != IntPtr.Zero)
{
DestroyEnvironmentBlock(pEnv);
}
CloseHandle(procInfo.hThread);
CloseHandle(procInfo.hProcess);
}
return true;
}
public static bool StartProcessAsCurrentUser(string appPath, string cmdLine = null, string workDir = null, bool visible = true)
{
var hUserToken = IntPtr.Zero;
var startInfo = new STARTUPINFO();
var procInfo = new PROCESS_INFORMATION();
var pEnv = IntPtr.Zero;
int iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser;
startInfo.cb = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(STARTUPINFO));
try
{
if (!GetCurrentUserSessionToken(ref hUserToken))
{
throw new Exception("StartProcessAsCurrentUser: GetSessionUserToken failed.");
}
uint dwCreationFlags = CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT | (uint)(visible ? CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE : CREATE_NO_WINDOW);
startInfo.wShowWindow = (short)(visible ? SW.SW_SHOW : SW.SW_HIDE);
startInfo.lpDesktop = "winsta0\\default";
if (!CreateEnvironmentBlock(ref pEnv, hUserToken, false))
{
throw new Exception("StartProcessAsCurrentUser: CreateEnvironmentBlock failed.");
}
if (!CreateProcessAsUser(hUserToken,
appPath, // Application Name
cmdLine, // Command Line
IntPtr.Zero,
IntPtr.Zero,
false,
dwCreationFlags,
pEnv,
workDir, // Working directory
ref startInfo,
out procInfo))
{
iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
throw new Exception("StartProcessAsCurrentUser: CreateProcessAsUser failed. Error Code -" + iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser);
}
iResultOfCreateProcessAsUser = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
}
finally
{
CloseHandle(hUserToken);
if (pEnv != IntPtr.Zero)
{
DestroyEnvironmentBlock(pEnv);
}
CloseHandle(procInfo.hThread);
CloseHandle(procInfo.hProcess);
}
return true;
}
}

Process that access a file in C# [duplicate]

I've seen several of answers about using Handle or Process Monitor, but I would like to be able to find out in my own code (C#)
which process is locking a file.
I have a nasty feeling that I'm going to have to spelunk around in the win32 API, but if anyone has already done this and can put me on the right track, I'd really appreciate the help.
Update
Links to similar questions
How does one figure out what process locked a file using c#?
Command line tool
Across a Network
Locking a USB device
Unit test fails with locked file
deleting locked file

Long ago it was impossible to reliably get the list of processes locking a file because Windows simply did not track that information. To support the Restart Manager API, that information is now tracked.
I put together code that takes the path of a file and returns a List<Process> of all processes that are locking that file.
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
static public class FileUtil
{
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)]
public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)]
public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle,
UInt32 nFiles,
string[] rgsFilenames,
UInt32 nApplications,
[In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications,
UInt32 nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle,
out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo,
[In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
///
/// </remarks>
static public List<Process> WhoIsLocking(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
List<Process> processes = new List<Process>();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int ERROR_MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded = 0,
pnProcInfo = 0,
lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = new string[] { path }; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint)resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == ERROR_MORE_DATA)
{
// Create an array to store the process results
RM_PROCESS_INFO[] processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == 0)
{
processes = new List<Process>((int)pnProcInfo);
// Enumerate all of the results and add them to the
// list to be returned
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
// catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
catch (ArgumentException) { }
}
}
else throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return processes;
}
}
Using from Limited Permission (e.g. IIS)
This call accesses the registry. If the process does not have permission to do so, you will get ERROR_WRITE_FAULT, meaning An operation was unable to read or write to the registry. You could selectively grant permission to your restricted account to the necessary part of the registry. It is more secure though to have your limited access process set a flag (e.g. in the database or the file system, or by using an interprocess communication mechanism such as queue or named pipe) and have a second process call the Restart Manager API.
Granting other-than-minimal permissions to the IIS user is a security risk.

This question had an original answer that is now over 7 years old. That code is preserved at https://gist.github.com/i-e-b/2290426
This old version might work for you if you need to use Windows XP for some reason.
A much better answer is at How to check for file lock?
I've replicated Eric J's answer below (with using statements added, and class & method names to match the old code that was here) Please note that the comments to this answer may be out-of-date.
Research by user 'Walkman' is ongoing to improve the older code, as there are some conditions where the Restart Manager does not list all locks. See Github repo: https://github.com/Walkman100/FileLocks
Use like:
List<Process> locks = Win32Processes.GetProcessesLockingFile(#"C:\Hello.docx");
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace FileLockInfo
{
public static class Win32Processes
{
/// <summary>
/// Find out what process(es) have a lock on the specified file.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="path">Path of the file.</param>
/// <returns>Processes locking the file</returns>
/// <remarks>See also:
/// http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa373661(v=vs.85).aspx
/// http://wyupdate.googlecode.com/svn-history/r401/trunk/frmFilesInUse.cs (no copyright in code at time of viewing)
/// </remarks>
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string path)
{
uint handle;
string key = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
int res = RmStartSession(out handle, 0, key);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not begin restart session. Unable to determine file locker.");
try
{
const int MORE_DATA = 234;
uint pnProcInfoNeeded, pnProcInfo = 0, lpdwRebootReasons = RmRebootReasonNone;
string[] resources = {path}; // Just checking on one resource.
res = RmRegisterResources(handle, (uint) resources.Length, resources, 0, null, 0, null);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not register resource.");
//Note: there's a race condition here -- the first call to RmGetList() returns
// the total number of process. However, when we call RmGetList() again to get
// the actual processes this number may have increased.
res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, null, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res == MORE_DATA)
{
return EnumerateProcesses(pnProcInfoNeeded, handle, lpdwRebootReasons);
}
else if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource. Failed to get size of result.");
}
finally
{
RmEndSession(handle);
}
return new List<Process>();
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public struct RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS
{
public int dwProcessId;
public System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.FILETIME ProcessStartTime;
}
const int RmRebootReasonNone = 0;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME = 255;
const int CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME = 63;
public enum RM_APP_TYPE
{
RmUnknownApp = 0,
RmMainWindow = 1,
RmOtherWindow = 2,
RmService = 3,
RmExplorer = 4,
RmConsole = 5,
RmCritical = 1000
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
public struct RM_PROCESS_INFO
{
public RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS Process;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_APP_NAME + 1)] public string strAppName;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CCH_RM_MAX_SVC_NAME + 1)] public string strServiceShortName;
public RM_APP_TYPE ApplicationType;
public uint AppStatus;
public uint TSSessionId;
[MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public bool bRestartable;
}
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern int RmRegisterResources(uint pSessionHandle, uint nFiles, string[] rgsFilenames,
uint nApplications, [In] RM_UNIQUE_PROCESS[] rgApplications, uint nServices,
string[] rgsServiceNames);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern int RmStartSession(out uint pSessionHandle, int dwSessionFlags, string strSessionKey);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmEndSession(uint pSessionHandle);
[DllImport("rstrtmgr.dll")]
static extern int RmGetList(uint dwSessionHandle, out uint pnProcInfoNeeded,
ref uint pnProcInfo, [In, Out] RM_PROCESS_INFO[] rgAffectedApps,
ref uint lpdwRebootReasons);
private static List<Process> EnumerateProcesses(uint pnProcInfoNeeded, uint handle, uint lpdwRebootReasons)
{
var processes = new List<Process>(10);
// Create an array to store the process results
var processInfo = new RM_PROCESS_INFO[pnProcInfoNeeded];
var pnProcInfo = pnProcInfoNeeded;
// Get the list
var res = RmGetList(handle, out pnProcInfoNeeded, ref pnProcInfo, processInfo, ref lpdwRebootReasons);
if (res != 0) throw new Exception("Could not list processes locking resource.");
for (int i = 0; i < pnProcInfo; i++)
{
try
{
processes.Add(Process.GetProcessById(processInfo[i].Process.dwProcessId));
}
catch (ArgumentException) { } // catch the error -- in case the process is no longer running
}
return processes;
}
}
}

It is very complex to invoke Win32 from C#.
You should use the tool Handle.exe.
After that your C# code have to be the following:
string fileName = #"c:\aaa.doc";//Path to locked file
Process tool = new Process();
tool.StartInfo.FileName = "handle.exe";
tool.StartInfo.Arguments = fileName+" /accepteula";
tool.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
tool.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
tool.Start();
tool.WaitForExit();
string outputTool = tool.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
string matchPattern = #"(?<=\s+pid:\s+)\b(\d+)\b(?=\s+)";
foreach(Match match in Regex.Matches(outputTool, matchPattern))
{
Process.GetProcessById(int.Parse(match.Value)).Kill();
}

One of the good things about handle.exe is that you can run it as a subprocess and parse the output.
We do this in our deployment script - works like a charm.

The code I found here,
https://vmccontroller.svn.codeplex.com/svn/VmcController/VmcServices/DetectOpenFiles.cs
Works for me much better than the code provided by Iain. Iain's code seemed to be acquiring a lock of its own. Here is my slightly modified version of the code above modified to return the string path of the files locked instead of the FileSystemInfo object,
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
//using System.EnterpriseServices;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Security.Permissions;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
namespace Crmc.Core.BuildTasks
{
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Linq;
#region ENUMs
internal enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int)0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int)0xC0000004L)
}
internal enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
internal enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
[Flags]
internal enum ProcessAccessRights
{
PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE = 0x00000040
}
[Flags]
internal enum DuplicateHandleOptions
{
DUPLICATE_CLOSE_SOURCE = 0x1,
DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS = 0x2
}
#endregion
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeObjectHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeObjectHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeObjectHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
[SecurityPermission(SecurityAction.LinkDemand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
internal sealed class SafeProcessHandle : SafeHandleZeroOrMinusOneIsInvalid
{
private SafeProcessHandle()
: base(true)
{ }
internal SafeProcessHandle(IntPtr preexistingHandle, bool ownsHandle)
: base(ownsHandle)
{
base.SetHandle(preexistingHandle);
}
protected override bool ReleaseHandle()
{
return NativeMethods.CloseHandle(base.handle);
}
}
#region Native Methods
internal static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern SafeProcessHandle OpenProcess(
[In] ProcessAccessRights dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out SafeObjectHandle lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] DuplicateHandleOptions dwOptions);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int GetProcessId(
[In] IntPtr Process);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern int QueryDosDevice(
[In] string lpDeviceName,
[Out] StringBuilder lpTargetPath,
[In] int ucchMax);
}
#endregion
//[ComVisible(true), EventTrackingEnabled(true)]
public class DetectOpenFiles// : ServicedComponent
{
private static Dictionary<string, string> deviceMap;
private const string networkDevicePrefix = "\\Device\\LanmanRedirector\\";
private const int MAX_PATH = 260;
private enum SystemHandleType
{
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN = 0,
OB_TYPE_TYPE = 1,
OB_TYPE_DIRECTORY,
OB_TYPE_SYMBOLIC_LINK,
OB_TYPE_TOKEN,
OB_TYPE_PROCESS,
OB_TYPE_THREAD,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_7,
OB_TYPE_EVENT,
OB_TYPE_EVENT_PAIR,
OB_TYPE_MUTANT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_11,
OB_TYPE_SEMAPHORE,
OB_TYPE_TIMER,
OB_TYPE_PROFILE,
OB_TYPE_WINDOW_STATION,
OB_TYPE_DESKTOP,
OB_TYPE_SECTION,
OB_TYPE_KEY,
OB_TYPE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_WAITABLE_PORT,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_21,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_22,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_23,
OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN_24,
//OB_TYPE_CONTROLLER,
//OB_TYPE_DEVICE,
//OB_TYPE_DRIVER,
OB_TYPE_IO_COMPLETION,
OB_TYPE_FILE
};
private const int handleTypeTokenCount = 27;
private static readonly string[] handleTypeTokens = new string[] {
"", "", "Directory", "SymbolicLink", "Token",
"Process", "Thread", "Unknown7", "Event", "EventPair", "Mutant",
"Unknown11", "Semaphore", "Timer", "Profile", "WindowStation",
"Desktop", "Section", "Key", "Port", "WaitablePort",
"Unknown21", "Unknown22", "Unknown23", "Unknown24",
"IoCompletion", "File"
};
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY
{
public int OwnerPid;
public byte ObjectType;
public byte HandleFlags;
public short HandleValue;
public int ObjectPointer;
public int AccessMask;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the open files enumerator.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="processId">The process id.</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static IEnumerable<String> GetOpenFilesEnumerator(int processId)
{
return new OpenFiles(processId);
}
public static List<Process> GetProcessesUsingFile(string fName)
{
List<Process> result = new List<Process>();
foreach (var p in Process.GetProcesses())
{
try
{
if (DetectOpenFiles.GetOpenFilesEnumerator(p.Id).Contains(fName))
{
result.Add(p);
}
}
catch { }//some processes will fail
}
return result;
}
private sealed class OpenFiles : IEnumerable<String>
{
private readonly int processId;
internal OpenFiles(int processId)
{
this.processId = processId;
}
#region IEnumerable<FileSystemInfo> Members
public IEnumerator<String> GetEnumerator()
{
NT_STATUS ret;
int length = 0x10000;
// Loop, probing for required memory.
do
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the address of the allocated
// memory is actually assigned to ptr if an
// asynchronous exception occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
int returnLength;
ret = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out returnLength);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
// Round required memory up to the nearest 64KB boundary.
length = ((returnLength + 0xffff) & ~0xffff);
}
else if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
int handleCount = Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr);
int offset = sizeof(int);
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY handleEntry = (SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY)Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr)((int)ptr + offset), typeof(SYSTEM_HANDLE_ENTRY));
if (handleEntry.OwnerPid == processId)
{
IntPtr handle = (IntPtr)handleEntry.HandleValue;
SystemHandleType handleType;
if (GetHandleType(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out handleType) && handleType == SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_FILE)
{
string devicePath;
if (GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, handleEntry.OwnerPid, out devicePath))
{
string dosPath;
if (ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(devicePath, out dosPath))
{
if (File.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // return new FileInfo(dosPath);
}
else if (Directory.Exists(dosPath))
{
yield return dosPath; // new DirectoryInfo(dosPath);
}
}
}
}
}
offset += size;
}
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
//sw.Flush();
//sw.Close();
}
}
while (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH);
}
#endregion
#region IEnumerable Members
System.Collections.IEnumerator System.Collections.IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
{
return GetEnumerator();
}
#endregion
}
#region Private Members
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, int processId, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetFileNameFromHandle(handle, out fileName, 200);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName, int wait)
{
using (FileNameFromHandleState f = new FileNameFromHandleState(handle))
{
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(GetFileNameFromHandle), f);
if (f.WaitOne(wait))
{
fileName = f.FileName;
return f.RetValue;
}
else
{
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
}
}
private class FileNameFromHandleState : IDisposable
{
private ManualResetEvent _mr;
private IntPtr _handle;
private string _fileName;
private bool _retValue;
public IntPtr Handle
{
get
{
return _handle;
}
}
public string FileName
{
get
{
return _fileName;
}
set
{
_fileName = value;
}
}
public bool RetValue
{
get
{
return _retValue;
}
set
{
_retValue = value;
}
}
public FileNameFromHandleState(IntPtr handle)
{
_mr = new ManualResetEvent(false);
this._handle = handle;
}
public bool WaitOne(int wait)
{
return _mr.WaitOne(wait, false);
}
public void Set()
{
try
{
_mr.Set();
}
catch{}
}
#region IDisposable Members
public void Dispose()
{
if (_mr != null)
_mr.Close();
}
#endregion
}
private static void GetFileNameFromHandle(object state)
{
FileNameFromHandleState s = (FileNameFromHandleState)state;
string fileName;
s.RetValue = GetFileNameFromHandle(s.Handle, out fileName);
s.FileName = fileName;
s.Set();
}
private static bool GetFileNameFromHandle(IntPtr handle, out string fileName)
{
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
int length = 0x200; // 512 bytes
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees the assignment of the allocated
// memory address to ptr, if an ansynchronous exception
// occurs.
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
NT_STATUS ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW)
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the previous allocation is freed,
// and that the newly allocated memory address is
// assigned to ptr if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
ret = NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length);
}
if (ret == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
fileName = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 8), (length - 9) / 2);
return fileName.Length != 0;
}
}
finally
{
// CER guarantees that the allocated memory is freed,
// if an asynchronous exception occurs.
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
fileName = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, int processId, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle, processId);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleType(IntPtr handle, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
string token = GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
return GetHandleTypeFromToken(token, out handleType);
}
private static bool GetHandleTypeFromToken(string token, out SystemHandleType handleType)
{
for (int i = 1; i < handleTypeTokenCount; i++)
{
if (handleTypeTokens[i] == token)
{
handleType = (SystemHandleType)i;
return true;
}
}
handleType = SystemHandleType.OB_TYPE_UNKNOWN;
return false;
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle, int processId)
{
IntPtr currentProcess = NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess();
bool remote = (processId != NativeMethods.GetProcessId(currentProcess));
SafeProcessHandle processHandle = null;
SafeObjectHandle objectHandle = null;
try
{
if (remote)
{
processHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(ProcessAccessRights.PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE, true, processId);
if (NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(processHandle.DangerousGetHandle(), handle, currentProcess, out objectHandle, 0, false, DuplicateHandleOptions.DUPLICATE_SAME_ACCESS))
{
handle = objectHandle.DangerousGetHandle();
}
}
return GetHandleTypeToken(handle);
}
finally
{
if (remote)
{
if (processHandle != null)
{
processHandle.Close();
}
if (objectHandle != null)
{
objectHandle.Close();
}
}
}
}
private static string GetHandleTypeToken(IntPtr handle)
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try
{
RuntimeHelpers.PrepareConstrainedRegions();
try { }
finally
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
}
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handle, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
{
return Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr)((int)ptr + 0x60));
}
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
return string.Empty;
}
private static bool ConvertDevicePathToDosPath(string devicePath, out string dosPath)
{
EnsureDeviceMap();
int i = devicePath.Length;
while (i > 0 && (i = devicePath.LastIndexOf('\\', i - 1)) != -1)
{
string drive;
if (deviceMap.TryGetValue(devicePath.Substring(0, i), out drive))
{
dosPath = string.Concat(drive, devicePath.Substring(i));
return dosPath.Length != 0;
}
}
dosPath = string.Empty;
return false;
}
private static void EnsureDeviceMap()
{
if (deviceMap == null)
{
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = BuildDeviceMap();
Interlocked.CompareExchange<Dictionary<string, string>>(ref deviceMap, localDeviceMap, null);
}
}
private static Dictionary<string, string> BuildDeviceMap()
{
string[] logicalDrives = Environment.GetLogicalDrives();
Dictionary<string, string> localDeviceMap = new Dictionary<string, string>(logicalDrives.Length);
StringBuilder lpTargetPath = new StringBuilder(MAX_PATH);
foreach (string drive in logicalDrives)
{
string lpDeviceName = drive.Substring(0, 2);
NativeMethods.QueryDosDevice(lpDeviceName, lpTargetPath, MAX_PATH);
localDeviceMap.Add(NormalizeDeviceName(lpTargetPath.ToString()), lpDeviceName);
}
localDeviceMap.Add(networkDevicePrefix.Substring(0, networkDevicePrefix.Length - 1), "\\");
return localDeviceMap;
}
private static string NormalizeDeviceName(string deviceName)
{
if (string.Compare(deviceName, 0, networkDevicePrefix, 0, networkDevicePrefix.Length, StringComparison.InvariantCulture) == 0)
{
string shareName = deviceName.Substring(deviceName.IndexOf('\\', networkDevicePrefix.Length) + 1);
return string.Concat(networkDevicePrefix, shareName);
}
return deviceName;
}
#endregion
}
}

Not very straightforward, but on Windows Vista and above you can use the Restart Manager APIs to see who is using a file. Internet Explorer caches settings includes details on using this to detect which process has iexplore.exe open.
Omitting a lot of detail:
// Start an RM session
RmStartSession(&sessionHandle, 0, sessionKey);
// Register the file you are checking
RmRegisterResources(sessionHandle, 1, filePathArray, 0, NULL, 0, NULL);
// Get all processes that have that file open.
RmGetList(sessionHAndle, &nProcInfoNeeded, &nProcInfo, processes, &rebootReason);
RmEndSession(sessionHandle);

Handle, from Windows Sysinternals. This is a free command-line utility provided by Microsoft.
You could run it, and parse the result.

I had issues with stefan's solution. Below is a modified version which seems to work well.
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a)
{
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses();
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++)
{
myProcess = processes[i];
//if (!myProcess.HasExited) //This will cause an "Access is denied" error
if (myProcess.Threads.Count > 0)
{
try
{
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++)
{
if ((modules[j].FileName.ToLower().CompareTo(strFile.ToLower()) == 0))
{
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break;
// TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception)
{
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
UPDATE
If you just want to know which process(es) are locking a particular DLL, you can execute and parse the output of tasklist /m YourDllName.dll. Works on Windows XP and later. See
What does this do? tasklist /m "mscor*"

This works for DLLs locked by other processes. This routine will not find out for example that a text file is locked by a word process.
C#:
using System.Management;
using System.IO;
static class Module1
{
static internal ArrayList myProcessArray = new ArrayList();
private static Process myProcess;
public static void Main()
{
string strFile = "c:\\windows\\system32\\msi.dll";
ArrayList a = getFileProcesses(strFile);
foreach (Process p in a) {
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName);
}
}
private static ArrayList getFileProcesses(string strFile)
{
myProcessArray.Clear();
Process[] processes = Process.GetProcesses;
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i <= processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1; i++) {
myProcess = processes(i);
if (!myProcess.HasExited) {
try {
ProcessModuleCollection modules = myProcess.Modules;
int j = 0;
for (j = 0; j <= modules.Count - 1; j++) {
if ((modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) == 0)) {
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess);
break; // TODO: might not be correct. Was : Exit For
}
}
}
catch (Exception exception) {
}
//MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
}
}
return myProcessArray;
}
}
VB.Net:
Imports System.Management
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Friend myProcessArray As New ArrayList
Private myProcess As Process
Sub Main()
Dim strFile As String = "c:\windows\system32\msi.dll"
Dim a As ArrayList = getFileProcesses(strFile)
For Each p As Process In a
Debug.Print(p.ProcessName)
Next
End Sub
Private Function getFileProcesses(ByVal strFile As String) As ArrayList
myProcessArray.Clear()
Dim processes As Process() = Process.GetProcesses
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To processes.GetUpperBound(0) - 1
myProcess = processes(i)
If Not myProcess.HasExited Then
Try
Dim modules As ProcessModuleCollection = myProcess.Modules
Dim j As Integer
For j = 0 To modules.Count - 1
If (modules.Item(j).FileName.ToLower.CompareTo(strFile.ToLower) = 0) Then
myProcessArray.Add(myProcess)
Exit For
End If
Next j
Catch exception As Exception
'MsgBox(("Error : " & exception.Message))
End Try
End If
Next i
Return myProcessArray
End Function
End Module

The following was produced based on Iain Ballard's code dump. It is broken: it will occasionally lock up when you retrieve the handle name. This code doesn't contain any work-arounds for that issue, and .NET leaves few options: Thread.Abort can no longer abort a thread that's currently in a native method.
So, with that disclaimer, here is the code to retrieve handles which has been adapted to work (apart from the occasional lock-up) both in 32 and 64 bit modes:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.ConstrainedExecution;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace BrokenHandleRetrieval
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Enumerates open handles.");
Console.WriteLine("This *will* lock up on calling HandleInfo.Name from time to time. Thread.Abort() won't help.");
foreach (var hi in HandleUtil.GetHandles().Where(hi => hi.Type == HandleType.File))
Console.WriteLine("pid: " + hi.ProcessId + ", name: " + hi.Name);
}
}
public enum HandleType
{
Unknown,
Other,
File, Directory, SymbolicLink, Key,
Process, Thread, Job, Session, WindowStation,
Timer, Desktop, Semaphore, Token,
Mutant, Section, Event, KeyedEvent, IoCompletion, IoCompletionReserve,
TpWorkerFactory, AlpcPort, WmiGuid, UserApcReserve,
}
public class HandleInfo
{
public int ProcessId { get; private set; }
public ushort Handle { get; private set; }
public int GrantedAccess { get; private set; }
public byte RawType { get; private set; }
public HandleInfo(int processId, ushort handle, int grantedAccess, byte rawType)
{
ProcessId = processId;
Handle = handle;
GrantedAccess = grantedAccess;
RawType = rawType;
}
private static Dictionary<byte, string> _rawTypeMap = new Dictionary<byte, string>();
private string _name, _typeStr;
private HandleType _type;
public string Name { get { if (_name == null) initTypeAndName(); return _name; } }
public string TypeString { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _typeStr; } }
public HandleType Type { get { if (_typeStr == null) initType(); return _type; } }
private void initType()
{
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
{
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
}
else
initTypeAndName();
}
bool _typeAndNameAttempted = false;
private void initTypeAndName()
{
if (_typeAndNameAttempted)
return;
_typeAndNameAttempted = true;
IntPtr sourceProcessHandle = IntPtr.Zero;
IntPtr handleDuplicate = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
sourceProcessHandle = NativeMethods.OpenProcess(0x40 /* dup_handle */, true, ProcessId);
// To read info about a handle owned by another process we must duplicate it into ours
// For simplicity, current process handles will also get duplicated; remember that process handles cannot be compared for equality
if (!NativeMethods.DuplicateHandle(sourceProcessHandle, (IntPtr) Handle, NativeMethods.GetCurrentProcess(), out handleDuplicate, 0, false, 2 /* same_access */))
return;
// Query the object type
if (_rawTypeMap.ContainsKey(RawType))
_typeStr = _rawTypeMap[RawType];
else
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectTypeInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_typeStr = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 0x58 + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
_rawTypeMap[RawType] = _typeStr;
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
_type = HandleTypeFromString(_typeStr);
// Query the object name
if (_typeStr != null && GrantedAccess != 0x0012019f && GrantedAccess != 0x00120189 && GrantedAccess != 0x120089) // don't query some objects that could get stuck
{
int length;
NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, IntPtr.Zero, 0, out length);
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
if (NativeMethods.NtQueryObject(handleDuplicate, OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS.ObjectNameInformation, ptr, length, out length) != NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
return;
_name = Marshal.PtrToStringUni((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + 2 * IntPtr.Size));
}
finally
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
}
finally
{
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(sourceProcessHandle);
if (handleDuplicate != IntPtr.Zero)
NativeMethods.CloseHandle(handleDuplicate);
}
}
public static HandleType HandleTypeFromString(string typeStr)
{
switch (typeStr)
{
case null: return HandleType.Unknown;
case "File": return HandleType.File;
case "IoCompletion": return HandleType.IoCompletion;
case "TpWorkerFactory": return HandleType.TpWorkerFactory;
case "ALPC Port": return HandleType.AlpcPort;
case "Event": return HandleType.Event;
case "Section": return HandleType.Section;
case "Directory": return HandleType.Directory;
case "KeyedEvent": return HandleType.KeyedEvent;
case "Process": return HandleType.Process;
case "Key": return HandleType.Key;
case "SymbolicLink": return HandleType.SymbolicLink;
case "Thread": return HandleType.Thread;
case "Mutant": return HandleType.Mutant;
case "WindowStation": return HandleType.WindowStation;
case "Timer": return HandleType.Timer;
case "Semaphore": return HandleType.Semaphore;
case "Desktop": return HandleType.Desktop;
case "Token": return HandleType.Token;
case "Job": return HandleType.Job;
case "Session": return HandleType.Session;
case "IoCompletionReserve": return HandleType.IoCompletionReserve;
case "WmiGuid": return HandleType.WmiGuid;
case "UserApcReserve": return HandleType.UserApcReserve;
default: return HandleType.Other;
}
}
}
public static class HandleUtil
{
public static IEnumerable<HandleInfo> GetHandles()
{
// Attempt to retrieve the handle information
int length = 0x10000;
IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
try
{
while (true)
{
ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(length);
int wantedLength;
var result = NativeMethods.NtQuerySystemInformation(SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS.SystemHandleInformation, ptr, length, out wantedLength);
if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH)
{
length = Math.Max(length, wantedLength);
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
}
else if (result == NT_STATUS.STATUS_SUCCESS)
break;
else
throw new Exception("Failed to retrieve system handle information.");
}
int handleCount = IntPtr.Size == 4 ? Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr) : (int) Marshal.ReadInt64(ptr);
int offset = IntPtr.Size;
int size = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
for (int i = 0; i < handleCount; i++)
{
var struc = (SystemHandleEntry) Marshal.PtrToStructure((IntPtr) ((int) ptr + offset), typeof(SystemHandleEntry));
yield return new HandleInfo(struc.OwnerProcessId, struc.Handle, struc.GrantedAccess, struc.ObjectTypeNumber);
offset += size;
}
}
finally
{
if (ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
}
}
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
private struct SystemHandleEntry
{
public int OwnerProcessId;
public byte ObjectTypeNumber;
public byte Flags;
public ushort Handle;
public IntPtr Object;
public int GrantedAccess;
}
}
enum NT_STATUS
{
STATUS_SUCCESS = 0x00000000,
STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW = unchecked((int) 0x80000005L),
STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH = unchecked((int) 0xC0000004L)
}
enum SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
SystemBasicInformation = 0,
SystemPerformanceInformation = 2,
SystemTimeOfDayInformation = 3,
SystemProcessInformation = 5,
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation = 8,
SystemHandleInformation = 16,
SystemInterruptInformation = 23,
SystemExceptionInformation = 33,
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation = 37,
SystemLookasideInformation = 45
}
enum OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS
{
ObjectBasicInformation = 0,
ObjectNameInformation = 1,
ObjectTypeInformation = 2,
ObjectAllTypesInformation = 3,
ObjectHandleInformation = 4
}
static class NativeMethods
{
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[In] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr SystemInformation,
[In] int SystemInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("ntdll.dll")]
internal static extern NT_STATUS NtQueryObject(
[In] IntPtr Handle,
[In] OBJECT_INFORMATION_CLASS ObjectInformationClass,
[In] IntPtr ObjectInformation,
[In] int ObjectInformationLength,
[Out] out int ReturnLength);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
internal static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
public static extern IntPtr OpenProcess(
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwProcessId);
[ReliabilityContract(Consistency.WillNotCorruptState, Cer.Success)]
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
internal static extern bool CloseHandle(
[In] IntPtr hObject);
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool DuplicateHandle(
[In] IntPtr hSourceProcessHandle,
[In] IntPtr hSourceHandle,
[In] IntPtr hTargetProcessHandle,
[Out] out IntPtr lpTargetHandle,
[In] int dwDesiredAccess,
[In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool bInheritHandle,
[In] int dwOptions);
}
}

This is probably irrelevant and if it is please someone comment but there was a work-around I've used in explorer before to get around file locks.
If a file was locked by a process that had died Windows often wouldn't let you delete it but if you created a new file of the same name somewhere else, moved it to the folder it would succeed. You could then delete the new file and all was well.
To use this for your app you'd have to be able to read the file and hold it in memory before you did this then you write it back out after you'd got rid of the old one.
Maybe it will help, maybe not but it's worth trying.

Try Unlocker. If you try and delete the file that is locked by another process, it will list the process(es) that have the file locked. You can then unlock the file by shutting down those processes.

foreach (var process in Process.GetProcessesByName("excel")) //whatever you need to close
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.xlsx"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}
or
foreach (var process in Process.GetProcesses())
{
if (process.MainWindowTitle.Contains("test.dat"))
{
process.Kill();
break;
}
}

I believe that you need code running in kernel mode to completely answer the question (but I haven't looked at the restart manager API).
You can enumerate all processes and their modules - so if the file you're looking for is a module (DLL, EXE, OCX...), you're good to go. But if it's a text file for example, you have to look at the kernel handle table which you cannot see from user mode. Handle.exe has a kernel driver in order to do that.

I rewrote the GetProcessesLockingFile() method in the solution. The code was not working.
For example, you have a folder "C:\folder1\folder2" and a process in folder2 (process1). If the process was running, GetProcessesLockingFile() was returning "C:\folder1\folder2". So the condition if (files.Contains(filePath)) => if ("C:\folder1\folder2".contains("C:\folder1\folder2\process1")) was never true.
So this is my solution:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(FileInfo file)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (file.FullName.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}
Or with a string parameter:
public static List<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
var procs = new List<Process>();
var processListSnapshot = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (var process in processListSnapshot)
{
if (process.Id <= 4) { continue; } // system processes
List<string> paths = GetFilesLockedBy(process);
foreach (string path in paths)
{
string pathDirectory = path;
if (!pathDirectory.EndsWith(Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH))
{
pathDirectory = pathDirectory + Constants.DOUBLE_BACKSLASH;
}
string lastFolderName = Path.GetFileName(Path.GetDirectoryName(pathDirectory));
if (filePath.Contains(lastFolderName))
{
procs.Add(process);
}
}
}
return procs;
}

You absolutely don't need to run in Kernel mode (!!!)
It's a Win32 FAQ since Windows 95 (!) (in C, Google groups, Win32) : read the handle table, from User mode of course, and get the PID from the File handle ...

Using dotnet core (net6) I solved this problem by using the win32 restart manager (as others have also mentioned). However some of the linked articles have elaborate code importing DLLs and calling those.
After finding an app to kill processes that lock a file written by meziantou. I found out that he publishes .Net wrappers for win32 dlls (including the restart manager).
Leveraging his work, I was able to fix this problem with the following code:
using Meziantou.Framework.Win32;
public static IEnumerable<Process> GetProcessesLockingFile(string filePath)
{
using var session = RestartManager.CreateSession();
session.RegisterFile(filePath);
return session.GetProcessesLockingResources();
}

simpler with linq:
public void KillProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(file).ForEach(x =>
{
x.Kill();
x.WaitForExit(10000);
});
}
public List<Process> GetProcessesAssociatedToFile(string file)
{
return Process.GetProcesses()
.Where(x => !x.HasExited
&& x.Modules.Cast<ProcessModule>().ToList()
.Exists(y => y.FileName.ToLowerInvariant() == file.ToLowerInvariant())
).ToList();
}